Gov. Nathan Deal said Tuesday he wants to expand a workforce development program to provide free technical college enrollment to students in high demand programs.

The Republican said at the annual Eggs & Issues breakfast that he will ask lawmakers to include students enrolled in industrial maintenance programs.

It's part of a Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant that provides training for students in targeted industries needing workers. Employers in companies big and small have long aired concerns that the state doesn't have enough highly trained workers to replace those who have left the workforce or retired.

He said the need for highly-trained workers will only grow. The governor said this month he will announce 3,134 new jobs representing $376 million in capital investment in Georgia.

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